Around the NFL: Packers make record profit of $54.3 million

The Green Bay Packers released details of another banner year financially yesterday, crediting another winning season, revenue-sharing across the NFL and shrinking player costs.

Team president and CEO Mark Murphy told reporters that the Packers generated a record $308.1 million in revenue, up 2 percent from 2012’s record $302 million.

“Another strong year on the field,” Murphy said. “Fourth year in a row to be in the playoffs, won two straight NFC North championships. That helps our finances.”

The team made a record $54.3 million in profits, up 26.4 percent from the previous year’s record $43 million.

As the NFL’s only publicly owned franchise, the Packers are the only league team required to reveal detailed financial data.

Murphy said the team plans to continue investing in its facilities, including wrapping up a 7,000-seat addition at Lambeau Field in time for the upcoming season and renovating the stadium’s atrium to include a new pro shop, hall of fame and restaurant by June 2015. The two projects are expected to cost a combined $286.5 million.

Meanwhile, the Packers signed safety Morgan Burnett to a long-term extension reportedly worth $24.75 million over four years. He could have become a free agent following the 2013 season.

With Charles Woodson missing most of last season because of a broken collarbone, Burnett took charge of the secondary.

Bengals defensive end signs extension

The Cincinnati Bengals signed defensive end Carlos Dunlap to a five-year contract extension worth $40 million.

Dunlap’s contract would have expired after this season, but it now runs through 2018. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said Dunlap gets $20 million over the first two years in a deal with incentives.

The 6-foot-6, 280-pound Dunlap is a fourth-year pro from Florida. He had 55 tackles and six sacks in 14 games last season.

Redskins seek to have lawsuit dismissed

The Washington Redskins are asking a judge to dismiss a former NFL player’s lawsuit that accuses the team and former assistant coach Gregg Williams of running a bounty program that encouraged players to intentionally injure opponents.

Linebacker Barrett Green said he was targeted by the Redskins during a game on Dec. 5, 2004, resulting in a career-ending knee injury. Green, who played for the Detroit Lions and New York Giants, filed his lawsuit against the team and others earlier this year.

The team said in a response filed on Friday in federal court in Maryland that Green’s claims are “utterly baseless.” Lawyers for the team wrote that even if the claims were true, Green’s lawsuit is pre-empted by an NFL collective bargaining agreement and comes too late.